Disaster 101: What Librarians Need to Know

1. Disaster 101: What Librarians Need to Know Amanda Sprochi, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri and Camillia Gentry, Via Christi Hospitals, Wichita, Kansas Background and Abstract The authors received a NN/LM Professional Development award to attend two continuing education courses after the 2012 MLA meeting in Seattle on disaster planning. The day-long continuing education curriculum consisted of two courses required for the MLA/NLM Disaster Information Specialist Program. The morning course, “US Response to Disasters and Public Health Emergencies,” dealt with the disaster response framework and agencies tasked with disaster response and management in the United States. The afternoon course, “Information Roles in Disaster Management,” addressed the place of librarians during crisis situations as providers of information to first responders, emergency managers, and disaster professionals. The information needs of disaster workers and the information librarians can provide during emergency situations were addressed through discussion and interactive tabletop exercises. This poster highlights useful tips, information sources, and suggestions for librarians who want to participate in disaster planning and management at their institutions. MLA Disaster Information Specialization Program Developed with NLM, this program trains participants to provide information for disaster and emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Basic level certification (15 contact hours), and advanced level (12 additional) may all be used for AHIP certification. http://www.mlanet.org/education/dis/ Continuity of Service How will library service be provided to healthcare workers in a disaster? Make plans for service continuity in the event of an emergency, by partnering with other institutions who can step in and assist with information needs if necessary. Networking can be done through the DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB Listserv. http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dimrclistserv.html Disaster Plan The most important part of disaster planning—have a plan! There are many resources available for help, including the NLM, CDC, FEMA, WHO, PAHO and others. A good place to start: NN/LM’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Toolkit. http://nnlm.gov/ep/ FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance FEMA offers grant programs to fund mitigation activities that help prevent losses from future disasters. States, local communities, tribal governments, territories, and universities are eligible. http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-assistance Prevention Web The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNISDR) Prevention Web serves the information needs of the disaster risk community. Includes information on resources, specific hazards, disaster reduction in countries and regions, themes and issues, and the Hygogo Framework, a global 10 year plan for disaster reduction. http://www.preventionweb.net/english/ Disaster Bookshelf An inquiry by Dan Wilson on the Disaster Information Outreach Listserv led to this list of ten titles for a “One Shelf Disaster Library.” In the event of an emergency that affects internet access, these were the core resources librarians agreed were necessary to keep copies of in print. http://nnlm.gov/ep/2009/07/10/one-shelf-disaster-library Disaster Mitigation (PAHO) The Pan-American Health Organization has gathered together resources (many in Spanish) on disaster mitigation and safe hospital planning. Mitigation: http://helid.digicollection.org/en/cl/CL1.3/#hlCL1_3 Safe Hospitals: http://helid.digicollection.org/en/cl/CL1.16/#hlCL1_16 Mobile Apps for Disaster Medicine The National Library of Medicine has collected mobile apps for emergency medicine, hazardous chemical and radiation emergencies, first aid, and other disaster-related issues. WISER, a fully downloadable stand-alone app for hazmat incidents, doesn’t even need a wireless connection! http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/ disasterapps.html Phases of Emergency Management Disaster Mitigation Planning Assistance Website Michigan State University and the California Preservation program maintain a database of experts, companies, and suppliers who can aid libraries in disaster recovery and mitigation. You can search by state, or nationally. http://matrix.msu.edu/~disaster/index.php DIMRC The National Library of Medicine’s Disaster Information Management Research Center website has links to many types of disaster information resources, including emergency response tools, disaster health literature, links to TOXNET resources, and so much more. A crucial resource for health libraries and institutions for disaster planning, response, and recovery. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc.html Librarians’ Roles in Disasters A bibliography of case reports, conferences, and publications on how librarians can help in the disaster planning, response, and recovery cycle in their communities. A great place to go to find inspiration on how you can help during a disaster. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/bibliographydisaster.html#pubs Disaster Assistance Recent events have shown that libraries and librarians are frequently called upon in their communities to provide information on resources available for their constituents in the wake of a disaster. DisasterAssistance.gov is a portal for individuals and families to find and apply for federal disaster assistance programs. http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response This CDC website is its primary source for information and resources for public health emergencies. These cover natural disaster, bioterrorism, chemical and radiation emergencies, disease outbreaks, mass casualties, and other incidents. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/ Helping People Cope Medline Plus’ “Coping with Disasters” page has advice and links to resources to help people deal with the aftermath of a disaster. Included are resources to help children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation arm of the Department of Homeland Security. Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska are in Region VII: http://www.fema.gov/region-vii South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming are in Region VIII: http://www.fema.gov/region-viii-co-mt-nd-sd-ut-wy Selected References Centers for Disease Control Emergency Preparedness and Response: http://emergency.cdc.gov/ DisasterAssistance.gov: http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ Disaster Mitigation Planning Assistance Website : http://matrix.msu.edu/~disaster/index.php DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB Listserv: http://disaster.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dimrclistserv.html FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/ Information Roles in Disaster Management. MLA course developed by Robin Featherstone: http://www.mlanet.org/education/dis/info_roles.html MLA Disaster Information Specialization Program: http://www.mlanet.org/education/dis/ National Library of Medicine’s Disaster Information Management Center: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc.html National Network/Libraries of Medicine Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: http://nnlm.gov/ep/ PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed Pan-American Health Organization Disaster Page: http://new.paho.org/disasters/?lang=en Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, and Related Authorities as of June 2007: https://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?fromSearch=fromsearch&id=3564 United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Prevention Web: http://www.preventionweb.net/english US Response to Disasters and Public Health Emergencies. MLA course developed by Mary Moore and Kimberly Loper: http://www.mlanet.org/education/dis/us_response.html WHO Humanitarian Health Action: http://www.who.int/hac/en/index.html Stafford Act The Stafford Act Section 403 (a)(3)(D) authorizes FEMA to provide Federal assistance for the provision of temporary facilities for schools and other essential community services. Thanks to a FEMA policy amendment passed in 2011, libraries, for the first time, are now recognized as “essential services” and can get funding to stay open and operating in a disaster. http://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-eligibility Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Dr. Mary Moore and Kimberly Loper of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Robin Featherstone of McGill University for their instruction and courses; the Medical Library Association Continuing Education Committee and the National Library of Medicine Disaster Management Research Center for funding and supporting disaster management courses at MLA2012; and the NN/LM MidContinental Region for sponsoring the Professional Development Award for Disaster Preparedness which funded our continuing education courses. For more information on MLA’s Disaster Information Specialization Program, visit the program homepage at MLA online: http://www.mlanet.org/education/dis/